U.S. patent application number 15/775826 was filed with the patent office on 2018-11-15 for heat pump system.
This patent application is currently assigned to SANHUA (HANGZHOU) MICRO CHANNEL HEAT EXCHANGER CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is SANHUA (HANGZHOU) MICRO CHANNEL HEAT EXCHANGER CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Qiang Gao, Lei Hu, Xiaoming Zhong, Jing Zhou.
Application Number | 20180328632 15/775826 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58718005 |
Filed Date | 2018-11-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180328632 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hu; Lei ; et al. |
November 15, 2018 |
HEAT PUMP SYSTEM
Abstract
A heat pump system includes a compressor, a four-way valve, an
outdoor heat exchanger, a throttling device and an indoor heat
exchanger connected in sequence to form a refrigerant main circuit.
The outdoor heat exchanger includes at least one double-rowed heat
exchanger. The heat pump system has a cooling mode and a heating
mode, and further includes a switching unit. The switching unit is
connected in the refrigerant main circuit, and switches a flow
direction of a refrigerant, such that the refrigerant flows into
the outdoor heat exchanger through one of the first heat exchanger
and the second heat exchanger, and flows out of the outdoor heat
exchanger through the other one of the first heat exchanger and the
second heat exchanger both in the cooling mode and in the heating
mode.
Inventors: |
Hu; Lei; (Hangzhou, CN)
; Gao; Qiang; (Hangzhou, CN) ; Zhou; Jing;
(Hangzhou, CN) ; Zhong; Xiaoming; (Hangzhou,
CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SANHUA (HANGZHOU) MICRO CHANNEL HEAT EXCHANGER CO., LTD. |
Hangzhou |
|
CN |
|
|
Assignee: |
SANHUA (HANGZHOU) MICRO CHANNEL
HEAT EXCHANGER CO., LTD.
Hangzhou
CN
|
Family ID: |
58718005 |
Appl. No.: |
15/775826 |
Filed: |
November 10, 2016 |
PCT Filed: |
November 10, 2016 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/CN2016/105365 |
371 Date: |
May 12, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25B 2500/01 20130101;
F25B 39/00 20130101; F25B 41/046 20130101; F25B 30/00 20130101;
F25B 13/00 20130101; F25B 30/02 20130101; F28D 1/0475 20130101;
F25B 2313/0253 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F25B 30/02 20060101
F25B030/02; F25B 13/00 20060101 F25B013/00; F25B 41/04 20060101
F25B041/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 18, 2015 |
CN |
201510796839.5 |
Claims
1. A heat pump system, comprising a compressor, a four-way valve,
an outdoor heat exchanger, a throttling device and an indoor heat
exchanger connected in sequence to form a refrigerant main circuit,
wherein the outdoor heat exchanger includes at least one
double-rowed heat exchanger, the double-rowed heat exchanger
comprises a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger
connected in series with each other, and an included angle .alpha.
between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger is
larger than or equal to 0 degree and smaller than 180 degrees; the
heat pump system has a cooling mode and a heating mode, and further
includes a switching unit, the switching unit is connected in the
refrigerant main circuit, and switches a flow direction of a
refrigerant, such that the refrigerant flows into the outdoor heat
exchanger through one of the first heat exchanger and the second
heat exchanger, and flows out of the outdoor heat exchanger through
the other one of the first heat exchanger and the second heat
exchanger both in the cooling mode and in the heating mode.
2. The heat pump system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
double-rowed heat exchanger is formed by bending a single heat
exchanger, or by connecting two heat exchangers in series.
3. The heat pump system as set forth in claim 1, wherein two or
more than two double-rowed heat exchangers are provided and the two
or more than two double-rowed heat exchangers are connected in
parallel to each other.
4. The heat pump system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the indoor
heat exchanger and the outdoor heat exchanger each are a parallel
flow micro-channel heat exchanger.
5. The heat pump system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first
heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are parallel to each
other and spaced apart from each other.
6. The heat pump system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
switching unit comprises a first on-off valve, a second on-off
valve, a third on-off valve and a fourth on-off valve.
7. The heat pump system as set forth in claim 6, wherein the first
on-off valve is connected between the first heat exchanger and the
four-way valve, the second on-off valve is connected between the
second heat exchanger and the throttling device, the third on-off
valve is disposed in a first refrigerant branch circuit, a first
end of the first refrigerant branch circuit is connected between
the first on-off valve and the first heat exchanger, and a second
end of the first refrigerant branch circuit is connected between
the second on-off valve and the throttling device, the fourth
on-off valve is disposed in a second refrigerant branch circuit, a
first end of the second refrigerant branch circuit is connected
between the first on-off valve and the four-way valve, and a second
end of the second refrigerant branch circuit is connected between
the second on-off valve and the second heat exchanger.
8. The heat pump system as set forth in claim 7, wherein the first
on-off valve, the second on-off valve, the third on-off valve and
the fourth on-off valve each are an electromagnetic valve.
9. The heat pump system as set forth in claim 7, wherein the first
on-off valve and the second on-off valve are switched on in the
cooling mode, and the third on-off valve and the fourth on-off
valve are switched off in the cooling mode.
10. The heat pump system as set forth in claim 7, wherein the first
on-off valve and the second on-off valve are switched off in the
heating mode, and the third on-off valve and the fourth on-off
valve are switched on in the heating mode.
11. The heat pump system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the first
on-off valve and the second on-off valve are switched on in the
cooling mode, and the third on-off valve and the fourth on-off
valve are switched off in the cooling mode.
12. The heat pump system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the first
on-off valve and the second on-off valve are switched off in the
heating mode, and the third on-off valve and the fourth on-off
valve are switched on in the heating mode.
13. The heat pump system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the first
on-off valve and the second on-off valve are switched off in the
heating mode, and the third on-off valve and the fourth on-off
valve are switched on in the heating mode.
14. The heat pump system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the
switching unit comprises a first on-off valve, a second on-off
valve, a third on-off valve and a fourth on-off valve.
15. The heat pump system as set forth in claim 3, wherein the
switching unit comprises a first on-off valve, a second on-off
valve, a third on-off valve and a fourth on-off valve.
16. The heat pump system as set forth in claim 4, wherein the
switching unit comprises a first on-off valve, a second on-off
valve, a third on-off valve and a fourth on-off valve.
17. The heat pump system as set forth in claim 5, wherein the
switching unit comprises a first on-off valve, a second on-off
valve, a third on-off valve and a fourth on-off valve.
18. The heat pump system as set forth in claim 14, wherein the
first on-off valve is connected between the first heat exchanger
and the four-way valve, the second on-off valve is connected
between the second heat exchanger and the throttling device, the
third on-off valve is disposed in a first refrigerant branch
circuit, a first end of the first refrigerant branch circuit is
connected between the first on-off valve and the first heat
exchanger, and a second end of the first refrigerant branch circuit
is connected between the second on-off valve and the throttling
device, the fourth on-off valve is disposed in a second refrigerant
branch circuit, a first end of the second refrigerant branch
circuit is connected between the first on-off valve and the
four-way valve, and a second end of the second refrigerant branch
circuit is connected between the second on-off valve and the second
heat exchanger.
19. The heat pump system as set forth in claim 15, wherein the
first on-off valve is connected between the first heat exchanger
and the four-way valve, the second on-off valve is connected
between the second heat exchanger and the throttling device, the
third on-off valve is disposed in a first refrigerant branch
circuit, a first end of the first refrigerant branch circuit is
connected between the first on-off valve and the first heat
exchanger, and a second end of the first refrigerant branch circuit
is connected between the second on-off valve and the throttling
device, the fourth on-off valve is disposed in a second refrigerant
branch circuit, a first end of the second refrigerant branch
circuit is connected between the first on-off valve and the
four-way valve, and a second end of the second refrigerant branch
circuit is connected between the second on-off valve and the second
heat exchanger.
20. The heat pump system as set forth in claim 16, wherein the
first on-off valve is connected between the first heat exchanger
and the four-way valve, the second on-off valve is connected
between the second heat exchanger and the throttling device, the
third on-off valve is disposed in a first refrigerant branch
circuit, a first end of the first refrigerant branch circuit is
connected between the first on-off valve and the first heat
exchanger, and a second end of the first refrigerant branch circuit
is connected between the second on-off valve and the throttling
device, the fourth on-off valve is disposed in a second refrigerant
branch circuit, a first end of the second refrigerant branch
circuit is connected between the first on-off valve and the
four-way valve, and a second end of the second refrigerant branch
circuit is connected between the second on-off valve and the second
heat exchanger.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a U.S. National Phase application
under 35 USC .sctn. 371 of the International Patent Application No.
PCT/CN2016/105365, filed on Nov. 10, 2016, which claims the benefit
of prior Chinese Application No. 201510796839.5, filed with the
State Intellectual Property Office of P. R. China on Nov. 18, 2015.
The entire contents of the before-mentioned patent applications are
incorporated by reference as part of the disclosure of this U.S.
application.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a technical field of heat
exchange, and more particularly to a heat pump system.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0003] A commercial air-cooled conditioning unit in the related art
is generally composed of a plurality of modules. Each module
generally includes at least two sheets of heat exchangers in
parallel, and in order to improve a heat exchange area, each heat
exchanger is arranged to be double-rowed.
[0004] When the heat pump system is switched between a cooling mode
and a heating mode, a flow direction of a refrigerant in the
double-rowed heat exchanger is changed as well. Since a flow
direction of air is not changed, heat exchange effects of the heat
exchanger in the cooling mode and in the heating mode are
different, such that optimization cannot be achieved in both modes,
thereby influencing properties of the heat pump system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present disclosure is made on basis of discoveries of
inventors of the present disclosure about following facts and
problems.
[0006] In the related art, a heat exchanger of each module in a
heat pump system is usually configured to include double rows
(i.e., a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger) in
series with each other. For example, supposing when the heat pump
system operates in a cooling mode, a refrigerant enters the first
heat exchanger firstly, and then flows out of the second heat
exchanger; when the heat pump system operates in the heating mode,
the refrigerant enters the second heat exchanger firstly, and then
flows out of the first heat exchanger.
[0007] No matter whether in the cooling mode or in the heating
mode, the air exchanges heat with the refrigerant in the second
heat exchanger firstly, and then exchanges heat with the
refrigerant in the first heat exchanger. Since a flow direction of
the air is always constant, a heat exchange sequence of the air
with the refrigerant in the first heat exchanger and the second
heat exchanger in the cooling mode is different from a heat
exchange sequence of the air with the refrigerant in the first heat
exchanger and the second heat exchanger in the heating mode. In
other words, in the cooling mode, the flow direction of the air is
opposite to the flow direction of the refrigerant (i.e., the air
and the refrigerant has a countercurrent flow exchange heat
therebetween), and in the heating mode, the flow direction of the
air is the same with the flow direction of the refrigerant (i.e.,
the air and the refrigerant flow has a parallel flow exchange heat
therebetween).
[0008] It is found by the inventors of the present disclosure
through a lot of research that, the heat exchange effect in the
case that the flow direction of the air is opposite to the flow
direction of the refrigerant is better than the heat exchange
effect in the case that the flow direction of the air is the same
with the flow direction of the refrigerant. Therefore, the heat
pump system in the related art cannot achieve the best heat
exchange effects both in the cooling mode and in the heating mode
at the same time, so that there is a need for improvements.
[0009] The present disclosure seeks to solve one of the above
technical problems in the related art to some extent. For that
reason, the present disclosure provides a heat pump system. The
heat pump system enhances the heat exchange capacity of the heat
exchanger, improves the heat exchange efficiency, and can achieve
the optimal heat exchange effects both in the cooling mode and in
the heating mode, thereby improving the properties of the heat pump
system.
[0010] The heat pump system according to embodiments of the present
disclosure includes a compressor, a four-way valve, an outdoor heat
exchanger, a throttling device and an indoor heat exchanger
connected in sequence to form a refrigerant main circuit, in which
the outdoor heat exchanger includes at least one double-rowed heat
exchanger, the double-rowed heat exchanger includes a first heat
exchanger and a second heat exchanger connected in series with each
other, an included angle .alpha. between the first heat exchanger
and the second heat exchanger is larger than or equal to 0 degree
and smaller than 180 degrees; the heat pump system has a cooling
mode and a heating mode, and also includes a switching unit, the
switching unit is connected in the refrigerant main circuit, and
switches a flow direction of a refrigerant, such that the
refrigerant flows into the outdoor heat exchanger through one of
the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, and flows
out of the outdoor heat exchanger through the other one of the
first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger both in the
cooling mode and in the heating mode.
[0011] The heat pump system according to embodiments of the present
disclosure uses the switching unit to control the flow direction of
the refrigerant in the outdoor heat exchanger, such that there
exists the countercurrent flow heat exchange between the
refrigerant in the outdoor heat exchanger and the air both in the
cooling mode and in the heating mode, thus improving the heat
exchange efficiency of the outdoor heat exchanger, ensuring heat
exchange effects of the heat pump system to be optimal both in the
cooling mode and in the heating mode, thereby improving the heat
exchange capacity and the heat exchange efficiency of the heat pump
system.
[0012] Additional aspects and advantages of embodiments of present
disclosure will be given in part in the following descriptions,
become apparent in part from the following descriptions, or be
learned from the practice of the embodiments of the present
disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a principle diagram schematically illustrating a
countercurrent flow heat exchange between a refrigerant in a
double-rowed heat exchanger of a conventional heat pump system and
air in a cooling mode;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a principle diagram schematically illustrating a
concurrent flow heat exchange between a refrigerant in a
double-rowed heat exchanger of a conventional heat pump system and
air in a heating mode;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a principle diagram of a heat pump system in a
cooling mode according to embodiments of the present
disclosure;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a principle diagram of a heat pump system in a
heating mode according to embodiments of the present disclosure;
and
[0017] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a double-rowed heat exchanger
of a heat pump system according to embodiments of the present
disclosure.
REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0018] Related art: heat exchanger 31', first heat exchanger 311',
first port 31a', second heat exchanger 312', second port 31b',
[0019] Present disclosure: heat pump system 100, [0020] compressor
1, [0021] four-way valve 2, first port 21, second port 22, third
port 23, fourth port 24, outdoor heat exchanger 3, double-rowed
heat exchanger 31, first heat exchanger 311, first port 31a, second
heat exchanger 312, second port 31b, [0022] throttling device 4,
indoor heat exchanger 5, [0023] first on-off valve 61, second
on-off valve 62, third on-off valve 63, fourth on-off valve 64,
[0024] first refrigerant branch circuit 71, first end 711 of first
refrigerant branch circuit 71, second end 712 of first refrigerant
branch circuit 71, second refrigerant branch circuit 72, first end
721 of second refrigerant branch circuit 72, second end 722 of
second refrigerant branch circuit 72, [0025] air flow orientation
component 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0026] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in
details in the following, and examples of the embodiments are
illustrated in accompanying drawings. The same or similar elements
and the elements having same or similar functions are denoted by
like reference numerals throughout the descriptions. The
embodiments described herein with reference to drawings are
explanatory, and used to generally understand the present
disclosure. The embodiments shall not be construed to limit the
present disclosure.
[0027] The present disclosure is made on basis of discoveries of
inventors of the present disclosure about the following facts and
problems.
[0028] As illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, in the related art, a heat
exchanger 31' of each module in a heat pump system is usually
configured to include double rows (i.e., a first heat exchanger
311' and a second heat exchanger 312') in series with each other.
For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, supposing when the heat pump
system operates in a cooling mode, the refrigerant enters the first
heat exchanger 311' through a first port 31a' firstly, and then
flows out of the second heat exchanger 312' through a second port
31b'; as illustrated in FIG. 2, when the heat pump system operates
in a heating mode, a flow direction of the refrigerant changes, the
refrigerant enters the second heat exchanger 312' through the
second port 31b' firstly, and then flows out of the first heat
exchanger 311' through the first port 31a'. In the drawings, an
arrow a denotes a flow direction of air, an arrow b denotes a flow
direction of the refrigerant in the first heat exchanger 311', and
an arrow c denotes a flow direction of the refrigerant in the
second heat exchanger 312'.
[0029] No matter whether in the cooling mode or in the heating
mode, the air exchanges heat with the refrigerant in the second
heat exchanger 312' firstly, and then exchanges heat with the
refrigerant in the first heat exchanger 311'. The flow direction of
the air is always constant, therefore, in the cooling mode, the
flow direction of the air is opposite to the flow direction of the
refrigerant (i.e., FIG. 1 illustrates a countercurrent flow heat
exchange between the air and the refrigerant), and in the heating
mode, the flow direction of the air is the same with the flow
direction of the refrigerant (i.e., FIG. 2 illustrates a concurrent
flow heat exchange between the air and the refrigerant).
[0030] It is found by the inventors of the present disclosure
through a lot of research that, the heat exchange effect in the
case that the flow direction of the air is opposite to the flow
direction of the refrigerant is better than the heat exchange
effect in the case that the flow direction of the air is the same
with the flow direction of the refrigerant. Therefore, the heat
pump system in the related art cannot achieve the best heat
exchange effects both in the cooling mode and in the heating mode
at the same time, and thus there is a need for improvements.
[0031] For that reason, the present disclosure provides a heat pump
system 100 with high heat exchange efficiency and good heat
exchange properties.
[0032] The heat pump system 100 according to embodiments of the
present disclosure will be described herein with reference to FIGS.
3-5. The heat pump system 100 can achieve the optimal heat exchange
effects both in the cooling mode and in the heating mode at the
same time.
[0033] As illustrated in FIGS. 3-5, the heat pump system 100
according to embodiments of the present disclosure includes a
compressor 1, a four-way valve 2, an outdoor heat exchanger 3, a
throttling device 4 and an indoor heat exchanger 5 connected in
sequence to form a refrigerant main circuit.
[0034] It could be understood by those skilled in the art that the
compressor 1 may have an air inlet and an air outlet, the
refrigerant enters the compressor 1 through the air inlet and is
discharged out of the compressor 1 through the air outlet. The
four-way valve 2 may have a first port 21, a second port 22, a
third port 23 and a fourth port 24, the first port 21 is
communicated with the air outlet, the second port 22 is
communicated with the outdoor heat exchanger 3, the third port 23
is communicated with the air inlet, and the fourth port 24 is
communicated with the indoor heat exchanger 5.
[0035] Specifically, the outdoor heat exchanger 3 includes at least
one double-rowed heat exchanger 31. The double-rowed heat exchanger
31 includes a first heat exchanger 311 and a second heat exchanger
312 connected in series with each other. An included angle .alpha.
between the first heat exchanger 311 and the second heat exchanger
312 is larger than or equal to 0 degree and smaller than 180
degrees. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 3-4, the outdoor heat
exchanger 3 includes two double-rowed heat exchangers 31, and each
double-rowed heat exchanger 31 includes the first heat exchanger
311 and the second heat exchanger 312 connected in series with each
other. The first heat exchanger 311 is arranged to be parallel to
the second heat exchanger 312, i.e., the angle .alpha. equals to 0
degree. The double-rowed heat exchanger 31 at a left side and the
double-rowed heat exchanger 31 at a right side are connected in
parallel, and the refrigerant flows into the outdoor heat exchanger
3 through the two first heat exchangers 311 at the same time, and
flows out of the outdoor heat exchanger 3 through the two second
heat exchangers 312.
[0036] It could be understood that, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the
first heat exchanger 311 may also be arranged to be not parallel to
the second heat exchanger 312, i.e., the angle .alpha. may be
larger than 0 degree and smaller than 180 degrees. It can also be
understood that, the refrigerant may also flow into the outdoor
heat exchanger 3 through the two second heat exchangers 312 at the
same time, and flow out of the outdoor heat exchanger 3 through the
two first heat exchangers 311.
[0037] The heat pump system 100 has the cooling mode and the
heating mode, and the cooling mode and the heating mode are
switched through the four-way valve 2. The heat pump system 100
further includes a switching unit. The switching unit is connected
in the refrigerant main circuit, so as to switch the flow direction
of the refrigerant, such that the refrigerant can flow into the
outdoor heat exchanger 3 through one of the first heat exchanger
311 and the second heat exchanger 312, and flow out of the outdoor
heat exchanger 3 through the other one of the first heat exchanger
311 and the second heat exchanger 312 both in the cooling mode and
in the heating mode. For example, the refrigerant flows into the
outdoor heat exchanger 3 through the first heat exchanger 311 and
flows out of the outdoor heat exchanger 3 through the second heat
exchanger 312 both in the cooling mode and in the heating mode.
Thus, the heat pump system 100 can achieve the countercurrent flow
heat exchange between the air and the refrigerant both in the
cooling mode and in the heating mode.
[0038] Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 3, when the heat pump
system operates in the cooling mode, the first port 21 of the
four-way valve 2 is communicated with the second port 22 of the
four-way valve 2, and the third port 23 of the four-way valve 2 is
communicated with the fourth port 24 of the four-way valve 2, that
is, the four-way valve 2 controls the refrigerant to flow from the
compressor 1 to the outdoor heat exchanger 3, and the switching
unit controls the refrigerant to flow through the two first heat
exchangers 311 into the outdoor heat exchanger 3 respectively, and
to flow out of the outdoor heat exchanger 3 through the two second
heat exchangers 312 respectively. Then, the refrigerant flows
through the throttling device 4 and the indoor heat exchanger 5
successively. Finally, the four-way valve 2 controls the
refrigerant flowing out of the indoor heat exchanger 5 to flow into
the compressor 1 again. That is, a flow circuit of the refrigerant
is shown as follows: compressor 1.fwdarw.four-way valve
2.fwdarw.first heat exchanger 311.fwdarw.second heat exchanger
312.fwdarw.throttling device 4.fwdarw.indoor heat exchanger
5.fwdarw.four-way valve 2.fwdarw.compressor 1, which is repeated in
this way. In the drawings, an arrow d denotes a flow path of the
refrigerant, an arrow e is used for denoting a flow direction of
the air, and the flow direction of the refrigerant in the outdoor
heat exchanger 3 is opposite to the flow direction of the air.
[0039] As illustrated in FIG. 4, when the heat pump system 100
operates in the heating mode, the first port 21 of the four-way
valve 2 is communicated with the fourth port 24 of the four-way
valve 2, and the second port 22 of the four-way valve 2 is
communicated with the third port 23 of the four-way valve 2, that
is, the four-way valve 2 controls the refrigerant to flow from the
compressor 1 into the indoor heat exchanger 5 and the throttling
device 4 successively. Then, the switching unit controls the
refrigerant to flow into the outdoor heat exchanger 3 through the
two first heat exchangers 311 respectively, and to flow out of the
outdoor heat exchanger 3 through the two second heat exchangers 312
respectively. Finally, the four-way valve 2 controls the
refrigerant to flow into the compressor 1. That is, the flow loop
of the refrigerant is shown as follows: compressor
1.fwdarw.four-way valve 2.fwdarw.indoor heat exchanger
5.fwdarw.throttling device 4.fwdarw.first heat exchanger
311.fwdarw.second heat exchanger 312.fwdarw.four-way valve
2.fwdarw.compressor 1, which is repeated in this way. In the
drawings, the arrow d denotes the flow path of the refrigerant, the
arrow e is used for denoting the flow direction of the air, and the
flow direction of the refrigerant in the outdoor heat exchanger 3
is opposite to the flow direction of the air.
[0040] From the above, no matter whether in the cooling mode or in
the heating mode, the refrigerant flows into the outdoor heat
exchanger 3 through the first heat exchanger 311 firstly, and then
flows out of the outdoor heat exchanger 3 through the second heat
exchanger 312. Moreover, the flow direction of the air is always
constant (always being opposite to the flow direction of the
refrigerant); therefore, both in the cooling mode and in heating
mode, the countercurrent flow heat exchange between the air and the
refrigerant is provided.
[0041] The heat pump system 100 according to embodiments of the
present disclosure uses the switching unit to control the flow
direction of the refrigerant, such that the refrigerant can flow
into the outdoor heat exchanger 3 through the first heat exchanger
311 and flow out of the outdoor heat exchanger 3 through the second
heat exchanger 312 both in the cooling mode and in the heating
mode. Thus, both in the cooling mode and in the heating mode, there
exists the countercurrent flow heat exchange between the
refrigerant in the outdoor heat exchanger 3 and the air, thus
improving the heat exchange efficiency of the outdoor heat
exchanger 3, ensuring the heat exchange effects of the heat pump
system 100 to be optimal both in the cooling mode and in the
heating mode, and thereby improving the properties of the heat pump
system 100.
[0042] In addition, when operating in a frosting condition, the
first heat exchanger 311 in the double-rowed heat exchanger 31 is
seriously frosted. The heat pump system 100 according to
embodiments of the present disclosure can ensure that heat enters
the first heat exchanger 311 preferentially in a defrosting mode,
thus accelerating the melting of frost, and reducing the defrosting
time. For example, in the heating mode, the gas-liquid two-phase
refrigerant enters the outdoor heat exchanger 3 through the first
heat exchanger 311, and after entering in the defrosting mode, the
high temperature refrigerant enters the outdoor heat exchanger 3
through the first heat exchanger 311 firstly, such that the frost
of the first heat exchanger 311 may be heated to melt firstly,
thereby shortening the frosting time.
[0043] Preferably, the indoor heat exchanger 5 and the outdoor heat
exchanger 3 both can be a parallel flow micro-channel heat
exchanger, such that the heat pump system 100 can have a more
compact structure and better heat exchange properties.
[0044] As illustrated in FIGS. 3-5, according to some embodiments
of the present disclosure, the double-rowed heat exchanger 31 may
be formed by connecting two heat exchangers in series, or the
double-rowed heat exchanger 31 may also be formed by bending a
single heat exchanger, thus facilitating the production of the
double-rowed heat exchanger 31 and providing the double-rowed heat
exchanger 31 with a high structure strength.
[0045] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, two
or more than two double-rowed heat exchangers 31 may be provided
and the two or more than two double-rowed heat exchangers 31 are
connected in parallel to one another, such that the heat exchange
effects of the outdoor heat exchanger 3 can be further enhanced and
hence the heat exchange efficiency of the outdoor heat exchanger 3
can be further improved. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 3-4,
two double-rowed heat exchangers 31 are provided, the first heat
exchanger 311 and the second heat exchanger 312 of each
double-rowed heat exchanger 31 are connected in series, and the
double-rowed heat exchangers 31 are connected in parallel to each
other. Each double-rowed heat exchanger 31 has a first port 31a and
a second port 31b, the first port 31a is provided to the first heat
exchanger 311 and the second port 31b is provided to the second
heat exchanger 312. The first ports 31a of the two double-rowed
heat exchangers 31 are connected correspondingly, and the second
ports 31b of the two double-rowed heat exchangers 31 are also
connected correspondingly, such that the two double-rowed heat
exchangers 31 are connected in parallel, the refrigerant flows into
the two first heat exchangers 311 through the two first ports 31a
respectively at the same time, and then flows out of the two second
heat exchangers 312 through the two second ports 31b
respectively.
[0046] In embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 3-4, the first heat
exchanger 311 and the second heat exchanger 312 may be parallel to
each other and spaced apart from each other, which is beneficial to
improving a heat dissipation area of the outdoor heat exchanger
3.
[0047] As illustrated in FIGS. 3-4, according to some embodiments
of the present disclosure, the switching unit may include a first
on-off valve 61, a second on-off valve 62, a third on-off valve 63
and a fourth on-off valve 64.
[0048] Furthermore, as illustrated in FIGS. 3-4, the first on-off
valve 61 is connected between the first port 31a of the first heat
exchanger 311 and the second port 22 of the four-way valve 2, and
the second on-off valve 62 is connected between the second port 31b
of the second heat exchanger 312 and the throttling device 4. The
third on-off valve 63 is disposed in a first refrigerant branch
circuit 71, a first end 711 of the first refrigerant branch circuit
71 is connected between the first on-off valve 61 and the first
port 31a of the first heat exchanger 311, and a second end 712 of
the first refrigerant branch circuit 71 is connected between the
second on-off valve 62 and the throttling device 4. The fourth
on-off valve 64 is disposed in a second refrigerant branch circuit
72, a first end 721 of the second refrigerant branch circuit 72 is
connected between the first on-off valve 61 and the second port 22
of the four-way valve 2, and a second end 722 of the second
refrigerant branch circuit 72 is connected between the second
on-off valve 62 and the second port 31b of the second heat
exchanger 312.
[0049] For example, the first on-off valve 61 is connected between
the first port 31a and the second port 22, the second on-off valve
62 is connected between the second port 31b and the throttling
device 4, the third on-off valve 63 is disposed in the first
refrigerant branch circuit 71, and the fourth on-off valve 64 is
disposed in the second refrigerant branch circuit 72. The first end
711 of the first refrigerant branch circuit 71 is connected between
the first on-off valve 61 and the first port 31a, and the second
end 712 of the first refrigerant branch circuit 71 is connected
between the second on-off valve 62 and the throttling device 4. The
first end 721 of the second refrigerant branch circuit 72 is
connected between the first on-off valve 61 and the second port 22,
and the second end 722 of the second refrigerant branch circuit 72
is connected between the second on-off valve 62 and the second port
31b.
[0050] Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 3, in the cooling mode,
the first on-off valve 61 and the second on-off valve 62 are
switched on, and the third on-off valve 63 and the fourth on-off
valve 64 are switched off. That is, a circuit between the four-way
valve 2 and the first heat exchanger 311 and a circuit between the
second heat exchanger 312 and the throttling device 4 are turned
on, and the first refrigerant branch circuit 71 and the second
refrigerant branch circuit 72 are turned off, such that the
refrigerant coming from the compressor 1 flows through the four-way
valve 2 and the first on-off valve 61 successively, then flows into
the outdoor heat exchanger 3 through the first heat exchanger 311
and flows out of the outdoor heat exchanger 3 through the second
heat exchanger 312.
[0051] As illustrated in FIG. 4, in the heating mode, the first
on-off valve 61 and the second on-off valve 62 are switched off,
and the third on-off valve 63 and the fourth on-off valve 64 are
switched on. That is, the first refrigerant branch circuit 71 and
the second refrigerant branch circuit 72 are turned on, and a
circuit between the first end 711 of the first refrigerant branch
circuit 71 and the first end 721 of the second refrigerant branch
circuit 72 as well as a circuit between the second end 712 of the
first refrigerant branch circuit 71 and the second end 722 of the
second refrigerant branch circuit 72 are turned off, such that the
refrigerant coming from the compressor 1 flows through the four-way
valve 2, the indoor heat exchanger 5 and the throttling device 4
successively, further flows to the first heat exchanger 311 through
the first refrigerant branch circuit 71, then flows into the
outdoor heat exchanger 3 through the first heat exchanger 311 and
flows out of the outdoor heat exchanger 3 through the second heat
exchanger 312.
[0052] Preferably, the first on-off valve 61, the second on-off
valve 62, the third on-off valve 63 and the fourth on-off valve 64
all can be an electromagnetic valve, thus facilitating switching of
the switching unit between the cooling mode and the heating mode,
and enabling exact, rapid electronic control and high security.
[0053] The heat pump system 100 according to a specific embodiment
of the present disclosure will be described in details with
reference to the drawings. It could be understood that, the
following descriptions are just explanatory, but should not be
construed to limit the present disclosure.
[0054] As illustrated in FIGS. 3-5, the heat pump system 100
according to embodiments of the present disclosure includes the
compressor 1, the four-way valve 2, the outdoor heat exchanger 3,
the throttling device 4 and the indoor heat exchanger 5 connected
in sequence to form the refrigerant main circuit.
[0055] The compressor 1 has the air inlet and the air outlet, the
refrigerant enters the compressor 1 through the air inlet and is
discharged out of the compressor 1 through the air outlet. The
four-way valve 2 has the first port 21, the second port 22, the
third port 23 and the fourth port 24, the first port 21 is
communicated with the air outlet, the second port 22 is
communicated with the outdoor heat exchanger 3, the third port 23
is communicated with the air inlet, and the fourth port 24 is
communicated with the indoor heat exchanger 5. The indoor heat
exchanger 5 and the outdoor heat exchanger 3 both are the parallel
flow micro-channel heat exchanger. The outdoor heat exchanger 3 is
provided with an air flow orientation component 8 (for example, a
fan), so as to ensure the flow direction of the air to be presented
as the arrow e.
[0056] Specifically, the outdoor heat exchanger 3 includes two
double-rowed heat exchangers 31 connected in parallel, each
double-rowed heat exchanger 31 is formed by bending a single heat
exchanger and includes the first heat exchanger 311 and the second
heat exchanger 312 connected in series with each other. The
included angle .alpha. between the first heat exchanger 311 and the
second heat exchanger 312 equals to 0 degree, that is, the first
heat exchanger 311 and the second heat exchanger 312 are parallel
to each other and spaced apart from each other. Each double-rowed
heat exchanger 31 has the first port 31a and the second port 31b,
the first port 31a is provided to the first heat exchanger 311 and
the second port 31b is provided to the second heat exchanger 312.
The first port 31a of the double-rowed heat exchanger 31 at the
left side is communicated with the first port 31a of the
double-rowed heat exchanger 31 at the right side, and the second
port 31b of the double-rowed heat exchanger 31 at the left side is
communicated with the second port 31b of the double-rowed heat
exchanger 31 at the right side, such that the two double-rowed heat
exchangers 31 are connected in parallel.
[0057] The heat pump system 100 has the cooling mode and the
heating mode, and the heat pump system 100 further includes the
switching unit. The switching unit is connected in the refrigerant
main circuit, so as to switch the flow direction of the
refrigerant, such that the refrigerant flows into the outdoor heat
exchanger 3 through the first heat exchanger 311, and flows out of
the outdoor heat exchanger 3 through the second heat exchanger 312
both in the cooling mode and in the heating mode. Specifically, the
switching unit includes the first on-off valve 61, the second
on-off valve 62, the third on-off valve 63 and the fourth on-off
valve 64. The first on-off valve 61, the second on-off valve 62,
the third on-off valve 63 and the fourth on-off valve 64 all are an
electromagnetic valve. The first on-off valve 61 is connected
between the first port 31a and the second port 22, the second
on-off valve 62 is connected between the second port 31b and the
throttling device 4, the third on-off valve 63 is disposed in the
first refrigerant branch circuit 71 and the fourth on-off valve 64
is disposed in the second refrigerant branch circuit 72. The first
end 711 of the first refrigerant branch circuit 71 is connected
between the first on-off valve 61 and the first port 31a, and the
second end 712 of the first refrigerant branch circuit 71 is
connected between the second on-off valve 62 and the throttling
device 4. The first end 721 of the second refrigerant branch
circuit 72 is connected between the first on-off valve 61 and the
second port 22, and the second end 722 of the second refrigerant
branch circuit 72 is connected between the second on-off valve 62
and the second port 31b.
[0058] As illustrated in FIG. 3, in the cooling mode, the first
port 21 is communicated with the second port 22, the third port 23
is communicated with the fourth port 24, the first on-off valve 61
and the second on-off valve 62 are switched on, and the third
on-off valve 63 and the fourth on-off valve 64 are switched off.
Thus, the refrigerant is discharged from the air outlet of the
compressor 1, flows through the first port 21, the second port 22
and the first on-off valve 61 successively, then flows into the
outdoor heat exchanger 3 through the first ports 31a of the two
double-rowed heat exchangers 31, and flows out of the outdoor heat
exchanger 3 through the second ports 31b of the two double-rowed
heat exchangers 31. Then, the refrigerant flows through the second
on-off valve 62, the throttling device 4, the indoor heat exchanger
5, the fourth port 24 and the third port 23 successively, and
finally flows into the compressor 1 through the air inlet. That is,
the flow circuit of the refrigerant is shown as follows: compressor
1.fwdarw.four-way valve 2.fwdarw.first on-off valve 61.fwdarw.first
heat exchanger 311.fwdarw.second heat exchanger
312.fwdarw.throttling device 4.fwdarw.indoor heat exchanger
5.fwdarw.four-way valve 2.fwdarw.compressor 1, which is repeated in
this way. In the drawings, the arrow d denotes the flow path of the
refrigerant, the arrow e is used for denoting the flow direction of
the air, and the flow direction of the refrigerant in the outdoor
heat exchanger 3 is opposite to the flow direction of the air.
[0059] As illustrated in FIG. 4, in the heating mode, the first
port 21 is communicated with the fourth port 24, the second port 22
is communicated with the third port 23, the first on-off valve 61
and the second on-off valve 62 are switched off, and the third
on-off valve 63 and the fourth on-off valve 64 are switched on.
Thus, the refrigerant is discharged from the air outlet of the
compressor 1, flows through the first port 21, the fourth port 24,
the indoor heat exchanger 5 and the throttling device 4
successively, further flows into the first refrigerant branch
circuit 71 and flows through the third on-off valve 63. Then, the
refrigerant flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 3 through the
first ports 31a of the two double-rowed heat exchangers 31, flows
out of the outdoor heat exchanger 3 through the second ports 31b of
the two double-rowed heat exchangers 31, then flows into the second
refrigerant branch circuit 72 and flows through the fourth on-off
valve 64. Finally, the refrigerant flows through the second port 22
and the third port 23 successively, and further flows into the
compressor 1 through the air inlet. That is, the flow circuit of
the refrigerant is shown as follows: compressor 1.fwdarw.four-way
valve 2.fwdarw.indoor heat exchanger 5.fwdarw.throttling device
4.fwdarw.third on-off valve 63.fwdarw.first heat exchanger
311.fwdarw.second heat exchanger 312.fwdarw.fourth on-off valve
64.fwdarw.four-way valve 2.fwdarw.compressor 1, which is repeated
in this way. In the drawings, the arrow d denotes the flow path of
the refrigerant, the arrow e is used for denoting the flow
direction of the air, and the flow direction of the refrigerant in
the outdoor heat exchanger 3 is opposite to the flow direction of
the air.
[0060] The heat pump system 100 according to embodiments of the
present disclosure uses the switching unit to control the flow
direction of the refrigerant in the outdoor heat exchanger 3, and
thus enables the flow direction of the refrigerant in the outdoor
heat exchanger 3 to be opposite to the flow direction of the air
both in the cooling mode and in the heating mode, i.e., there
exists the countercurrent flow heat exchange between the
refrigerant in the outdoor heat exchanger 3 and the air both in the
cooling mode and in the heating mode, thereby ensuring the heat
exchange effects of the outdoor heat exchanger 3 to be optimal both
in the cooling mode and in the heating mode, and improving the
properties of the heat pump system 100.
[0061] In the specification, it is to be understood that terms such
as "central," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width,"
"thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right,"
"vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer,"
"clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," and
"circumferential" should be construed to refer to the orientation
as then described or as illustrated in the drawings under
discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description
and do not require that the present disclosure be constructed or
operated in a particular orientation. In addition, terms such as
"first" and "second" are used herein for purposes of description
and are not intended to indicate or imply relative importance or
significance or to imply the number of indicated technical
features. Thus, the feature defined with "first" and "second" may
comprise one or more of this feature. In the description of the
present disclosure, "a plurality of" means two or more than two,
unless specified otherwise.
[0062] In the present disclosure, unless specified or limited
otherwise, the terms "mounted," "connected," "coupled," "fixed" and
the like are used broadly, and may be, for example, fixed
connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; may
also be mechanical or electrical connections; may also be direct
connections or indirect connections via intervening structures; may
also be inner communications of two elements, which can be
understood by those skilled in the art according to specific
situations.
[0063] Reference throughout this specification to "an embodiment,"
"some embodiments," "one embodiment", "another example," "an
example," "a specific example," or "some examples," means that a
particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic
described in connection with the embodiment or example is included
in at least one embodiment or example of the present disclosure.
Thus, the appearances of the phrases such as "in some embodiments,"
"in one embodiment", "in an embodiment", "in another example," "in
an example," "in a specific example," or "in some examples," in
various places throughout this specification are not necessarily
referring to the same embodiment or example of the present
disclosure. Furthermore, the particular features, structures,
materials, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable
manner in one or more embodiments or examples.
[0064] Although explanatory embodiments have been illustrated and
described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that
the above embodiments cannot be construed to limit the present
disclosure, and changes, alternatives, and modifications can be
made in the embodiments without departing from spirit, principles
and scope of the present disclosure.
* * * * *